White House instructs border officers to reject all asylum claims based upon gang or domestic violence.

The Trump Administration will start instructing all officers reviewing asylum and refugee applications – including those made at the U.S./Mexico – to summarily reject any claims based upon fear of gang or domestic violence. » Read More

Justice Department to Charge Those Crossing U.S. Border with Federal Crimes

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the federal government would immediately detain individuals crossing the U.S. border without documentation and charge them with crimes in federal court.  Sessions further stated that families would not be spared, indicating that if “you’re smuggling a child, we’re going to prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you, probably, as required by law.  » Read More

Raymond G. Lahoud, a Member of Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., and Chair of its Immigration Law Practice, presented at the 2018 New York Asylum and Immigration Conference held at New York Law School on February 23.  Intended for new and experienced attorneys, as well as professors, featured topics included an intro to asylum law, ethics in immigration law, the future of immigration, Unicef and UNHCR Statelessness and child migrants, diversity and inclusion, best practices before the Asylum Office, how to prove persecution on account of a protected ground, direct and cross examination, and motions to reopen and reconsider.  » Read More

Venezuela’s ongoing political turmoil and near economic collapse have caused thousands of Venezuelans to flee to the United States to seek asylum protection.  United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that in the first three months of 2017, 8,301 Venezuelans sought asylum protection in the United States, compared to 3,507 asylum applicants in the same three months of 2016.  » Read More